Pioneer Girls Rock

Happy Wednesday Golden Divas!

This is a crossover event so this post is a little different, however; it is still informative and it is very educational. Some of you might know that I am a play critic for Chicago Defender, ChicagoNow and TheaterInChicago. I review plays all around Chicago land 250 a year to be exact and just recently I had the pleasure of reviewing a play called ‘Flyin’ West’ at The American Blues Theater and I must say this play was EPIC!

Ladies, it is so worthy to continue to share and promote this play in hopes that you will get out and see it because we were rocking back in the nineteenth century as we are doing now! And Yes, our struggles were real back then as well as today but overall as sistahs, we stuck together to better our lives as independent smart courageous women!

Golde Divas there comes a time in this line of work that a play moves you so intensely that you want to share it on every social media, (including Club 50) go shout it to the mountains, over the hills and down in the valleys because you want others to experience the effect that it had on you.

One of those plays is ‘Flyin’ West’ written by the very talented Playwright Pearl Cleage and directed by the legendary Chuck Smith. This great work of art will be playing until November 3^rd. It is a poignant look at an untold story, a historical drama that focuses on the aftermath of the so-called ‘Exodus of 1879′ when 40,000 African Americans migrated to Kansas, under the direction of Benjamin “Pap” Singleton who migrated to Kansas when it was a sanctuary state for runaway slaves during the Civil War.

‘Flyin’ West’ is set in the fall of 1898 in an all-black town of Nicodemus, Kansas where some widowed and unmarried African American female pioneers who were affected by the cruel and hostile environment, left the south and ran their farms and ranches in various western states and territories. 

Check out our review below

FLYIN’ WEST

A Poignant Look at an Untold Story 

There are a plethora of historical stories about African-Americans not mentioned in the history books or taught to our children. Amazing narratives about the remarkable achievements Blacks made to shape the course of the United States and the struggles they had to endure, just to taste a little portion of freedom and equality. In the effort to educate our society about these amazing people of color, American Blues Theater brings to the stage, this theatrical masterpiece by Pearl Cleage; Flyin West.

After the end of the Civil War, many former slaves benefited from the opportunity of the Homestead Act to own property and to use that land to support themselves or to develop it and sell it for a profit. Against all the odds and enduring the dirty stain of slaves that was abolished through the Emancipation Proclamation, blacks fled to a land called Nicodemus, Kansas, a place where abolitionists provided them with freedom and opportunity to purchase 160 free acres of federal land via the Homestead Act of 1862.

ABT presents a revival of Playwright Pearl Cleage ‘Flyin’ West’ a historical drama that focuses on the aftermath of the so-called ‘Exodus of 1879′ when 40,000 African Americans migrated to Kansas, under the direction of Benjamin “Pap” Singleton who migrated to Kansas a sanctuary state for runaway slaves during the Civil War.

Set in the fall of 1898 in an all-black town of Nicodemus, Kansas where some widowed and unmarried African American female pioneers who were affected by the cruel and hostile environment, left the south and ran their farms and ranches in various western states and territories. The plays focal point were three sisters. Flyin West tells us the story where former slaves and their descendants built an all-black town and how these proud and determined black women purchased a plot of land; working hard to keep it in the family.

Leading the cast is Sophie Washington (Tiffany Oglesby) a strong-willed and independent woman who has two younger sisters. Fannie Dove (Sydney Charles) is leveled headed and a very nurturing soul and Minnie Dove Charles (Tiffany Renee Johnson) the youngest of the three who is the only one married. Minnie has just come back home from London with her husband, Frank Charles (Wardell Julius Clark) who is an uppity mulatto and is passing for white. The cast includes Miss Leah whose husband and children died also lives with Sophie and Fannie and the slow-talking yet kind-hearted Wil Parish (Henri Watkins) who is willing to kill to keep peace rounds out this great ensemble.

The content in Flyin’ West is bold, and the women are fierce, strong, and memorable because of what they have endured by leaving the oppressive South in hopes of enjoying the freedom that they were denied.

The levels of complexities are explored as Flyin’ West discusses pivotal topics from domestic violence, women’s rights, determination, race relations, miscegenation, racial passing and separation, dreams of homeownership, (intermarriage between races) and freedom.

The emotions run high in Flyin’ West as Sophie fights to retain her property and the surrounding land from prospectors with hopes to get other landowners to vote on future developments of Nicodemus instead of selling their land. Things get intense when one member of the family seeks out their own agenda, and plans are made from end what could destroy years of hard work. It’s a recipe that you don’t want to miss.

Director Chuck Smith has once again brought to the stage an educational work of art with Flyin’ West written by renowned and award-winning playwright Pearl Cleage. Similar to his recent play, The Delaney Sister, “Having Our Say,” at the Goodman Theatre, that educated and inspired the audience about the history of African-Americans, Smith’s ability to continuously delight Chicago audiences with his wisdom by introducing us to great theatrical productions shouldn’t be overlooked. Smith is a walking encyclopedia that young directors should grab, read, and study.

Cleage is well known as a best-selling book called “What Look Like Crazy On An Ordinary Day,” which spent nine weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and an Oprah Book club top pick. When Flyin’ West came out in 1994, it was listed as the most produced new play in the country, and its premiere at American Blues Theater gives the audience a taste as to why it received such high praise.

Kudos to American Blues Theater for putting together an excellent educational booklet about Nicodemus, Kansas, female homesteaders and stories featuring Ida B. Wells, conversations from Frederick Douglass and information about Domestic Violence. This Backstage Guide booklet provides the incredible backstory of actual events and truly compliments the play and needs to be shared.

Golden Divas, Let’s Play ‘Highly Recommend’ that you don’t crawl, walk or run get your wings ready for this MUST-SEE play ‘Flyin’ West’ at the American Blues Theater!

The cast includes:

Sydney Charles (Fannie Dove)
Wardell Julius Clark (Frank Charles)
Tiffany Renee Johnson (Minnie Dove Charles)
Joslyn Jones (Miss Leah)
Tiffany Oglesby (Sophie Washington)
Henri Watkins (Wil Parish)

American Blues Theater Presents
Flyin’ West
By Pearl Cleage
Directed by Artistic Affiliate Chuck Smith 

October 5 – November 3, 2018